Top Santa Maria Wrongful Termination Lawyers - California

If you were fired and believe that your termination was illegal, an employment attorney who handles wrongful termination cases in Santa Maria may be able to help.

Employment lawyers protect the rights of people who have been fired in a variety of ways. They handle wrongful termination lawsuits, file complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and related state-level organizations and provide trusted advice to those who need it the most.

We've put together a list of lawyers and law firms in your area so that you can get the legal advice you need to pursue your wrongful termination claim.

• Discriminatory reasons, including employment discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, sex (including issues related to pregnancy and sexual orientation), religious beliefs or disability status.
• Retaliation for taking medical leave (including leave related to COVID-19/coronavirus), reporting sexual harassment, seeking workers' compensation benefits, being a whistleblower or helping with whistleblowing activities, or filing a personal injury claim or pursuing other legal issues against the company or its employees.
• Breaking an employment contract or violation of an employment agreement.
• Other illegal reasons for termination that run counter to public policy and California law.

An attorney can help you sort through these and other potential causes of your wrongful termination, as well as stand up for your rights if your former employer claims that you were let go for allowable reasons such as being an at-will employee.

Many people who need to find a lawyer in California have never hired a lawyer before. Talking to a lawyer may be a new experience and you might want some help getting started. Here are questions you may want to ask a lawyer before deciding who to hire.

• What is your main practice area?
• How many years of experience do you have in California with cases like mine?
• How often do you take cases to trial or settle them out of court?
• Can I take my case through mediation or arbitration?
• Do you offer a free consultation?
• What are your fees and costs?
• Will you be the attorney primarily handling my case?
• How will I be kept up-to-date about my case?

In order to practice law in California, attorneys have to both pass the California bar exam and be admitted by the State Bar of California. Most attorneys in California graduate from an accredited law school but some lawyers are admitted through on-the-job experience for a minimum of 4 years and through passing an additional legal exam. After a lawyer is admitted to law practice in California, they can practice in almost any area of law.

Lawyers in California are held to strict ethical guidelines known as the Rules of Professional Conduct. Attorneys may have duties and limitations in:

• Attorney-client confidentiality
• Duty of client advocacy
• Conflicts of interest
• Duty of candor
• Limitations in soliciting clients
• Restrictions on handling a client's money

Many people avoid calling a lawyer because they are worried it will be too expensive. In many cases, a lawyer can end up saving the client money. This includes getting an increased award, recovering additional damages, avoiding financial problems in the future, and avoiding future disputes and litigation. Some legal areas even allow the lawyer to recover legal fees from the party at fault.